"What's with the face..?", asked Kajiya of his wife, Masako. "You look troubled."
A large decorated pine tree loomed in the middle of a roundabout as Masako stared at it from their inn room's window. It was also wrapped around with lights and topped off by a large lantern-like star. There were not as many people gathered around it to take images with their "console commands" compared to earlier that evening.
Masako looked at her sleeping seven year old child and smiled faintly before shifting her attention to her husband. "Maybe it's because I drank too much."
"Seijurou would still be awake with all your antics if you really were drunk..", Kajiya replied and laughed silently after. "You're a bad liar, Masako."
Masako giggled as well, but her worried expression returned immediately as soon as she gazed at her son. "I didn't want him to see me fight."
"There's no helping it. Your name itself almost instantly calls for a duel."
"I should've been a teacher instead..", Masako jested, but her expression said otherwise. "So Seijurou could just study all day and become a genius. That way, he'll have a future without getting hurt."
Kajiya approached his wife and put an arm around her. He kissed her on the forehead afterwards. "But sooner or later, this world will inevitably make him take up arms."
The mighty Heiress sighed in frustration as if she was just someone ordinary who had a rough day. The consequences of carrying such a title definitely had some repercussions affecting their family dynamics. "I just wanted to show Seijurou the Christmas tree in this town."
What they both did not know was little Seijurou was awake that night. He was just on the verge of falling asleep then and just decided to eavesdrop on his parents. It was his earliest memory of his mother turning him away from fighting.
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"Alright, class! It's time to turn in your homework..", said a tall and muscular old man wearing a blue mage's robe as he suddenly entered the first years' classroom.
The "social studies" teacher brought Seijurou back to the current timeline, ending his habitual daydreaming. The "retired general turned sensei" had a graying military cut and beard with some round glasses on to top it all off. He adjusted his frames a little to look curiously at each student. "What's with the nervous faces, younglings?"
Chizuru sighed in relief. "It looks like I'm not alone."
"But I'm not alone either..", replied Seijurou while he pointed out that at least half of the class did their homeworks. "He gave it during his 'Descartes versus Durkheim' lecture."
Immediately returning to her distressed self, Chizuru just slouched in disappointment. "I'm doomed. I'm definitely going to fail this subject."
"I guess you're part of half of the class who don't listen..", Seijurou heartlessly remarked, which got Chizuru on fire. But just when she was about to smack him, something beeped in her console command.
It was another version of Seijurou's homework.
"You can thank me later..", said Seijurou smugly.
Chizuru flushed a little as Seijurou smirked at her. She then pouted and looked away. "You're still mean though.. but thanks."
"First one to present, Taneda Chizuru..", General Shirohige called, which got Chizuru stiff. "Again, give one philosophical implication of your favorite part of history."
Sweat rolled down her head as Chizuru slowly stood up and smiled awkwardly. She had barely read the assignment Seijurou just shared with her.
Also, Seijurou could barely contain his laughter, which prompted Chizuru to step on his foot violently. It caused a muffled but agonized shout from him.
"Uhmm.. mine is about the 'Abyssal Calamity'..", Chizuru said out loud in class.
"A rather recent one..", Shirohige said. "And controversial too. It almost took the entire year two thousand and twenty off the calendar."
"Yes, sensei..", said Chizuru nervously as she carefully thought of the next words that would not offend anyone. "I guess it had something to do with 'Durkheimian Social Theory'.. whereas the anomaly had to be destroyed only by the strongest even if some weren't directly affected.. well, according to everyone's consensus."
"Yet..", General Shirohige interrupted. "Almost all the populations of the world stayed indoors and abandoned their livelihood for an entire year, hoping the extremely malevolent magical anomaly won't randomly appear in the skies..
"Thankfully, it was stopped by the most powerful heroes from all over the world before it was able to destroy everything.. hopefully permanently though.
"But of course, it came with a great cost. And since we are talking about Durkheim's philosophy, what do you think is the collective thought in this one?"
Chizuru looked even more nervous than before as she realized she made a mistake. There was no escape from offending someone with the correct answer. She looked at Seijurou hoping that it would not open old wounds. She just decided to awkwardly smile at her teacher. "Eh.. I don't know the answer."
"The consequences of choosing such a controversial topic..", Shirohige implied that Chizuru knew the answer though she did not want to say it. "Forgive me for being blunt.. A necessary but great sacrifice had to be made for the greater good. That is your answer. You may sit down, Taneda-san."
As the rest of the class continued with the activity, Seijurou could not help but think of what the teacher said about Chizuru's topic. Shirohige was implying the great sacrifice there was the many heroes that died for the world's survival, including his mother.
Seijurou shifted his attention then to Satsuki. She had an unusual blankness in her expression as she peered through the window. Her mind seemed to wander off as if it was looking for a sanctuary from the dreadful memories she was just reminded of.
It was his fault after all, since he made that homework for Chizuru.
"Erida Seijurou!..", Shirohige called, which brought Seijurou back to his senses. "It seems you have drifted to your own world. Mind sharing it with us?"
"Otaku..", Jax coughed up tauntingly as Seijurou stood up to recite. Muffled laughter engulfed the room.
"I'll be talking about the implications of 'Cartesianism' and 'Collective Consciousness' toward the 'Blank Century'..", Seijurou recited, making most of the class wide eyed in awe. A bead of sweat came out of his head as he realized that most of his classmates had no idea what he just said.
"Impressive, Erida-san. Who would've thought you'd relate that to what we just discussed previously?..", replied Shirohige in amazement. "But as how it is called, nothing happened in the first hundred years after 'The Great Implosion', thus the name, 'Blank Century'. How do these almost contradicting philosophies relate to it then?"
"With all due respect, sensei.. how do you know nothing happened during that time?..", argued Seijurou. Everyone's attention was suddenly on him, including Satsuki's. "It's virtually impossible to not have any form of a written record from that period. A hundred years is far too long for no one to have ever known and recorded anything."
Shirohige smirked as he felt a hint of enthusiasm from his student. "To answer your question, I do not know. I cannot reason with you if I did not have the facts. But the same goes for you, young one. So tell me, how are you going to present your point?"
However, Seijurou did not flinch and presented his homework confidently. "I guess during that time.. the most prominent personalities, who represent their society's voice, decided it was best not to record history, which represented the argument of Durkheim's collective consciousness..
"And since 'to think is to exist' in Descartes' philosophy.. through collective thought, they perceived the events during this period did not exist..
"Therefore since there was nothing written about the first century, it remains blank and non existent up to the present day through collective consciousness."
Fascinated with Seijurou's train of thought, Shirohige stared at the boy wide eyed. "My dear boy, are you saying that the world's leaders decided to erase a hundred years of history? Why would they do that?"
"That is a possibility. As to why, I do not know. Maybe they were hiding something?..", Seijurou replied and paused for a moment to think. "But I don't have the facts for that, sensei. I'm only trying to prove the existence of the unrecorded events of the Blank Century through reasoning."
There was a little bit of skepticism in their teacher's expression, but his fascination for the student remained. "It seems that you two seatmates have a mutual liking for controversy and conspiracy."
Chizuru and Seijurou exchanged looks momentarily and blushed a little in embarrassment. However, Seijurou realized both homeworks was done by him, hence making him the one obsessed with radical theories.
"However your argument, Erida-san, does not only prove the existence of the Blank Century's unrecorded history..", Shirohige said, continuing the discussion. "It also involves the whole of history up to today and what is to come. You may take your seat."
Seijurou sat down while his classmates stared at him as if they were accusing him for frying their brains. Chizuru was no exception as she looked at him blankly, but Satsuki just giggled silently from the far end.
"The implications on what Erida-san just reported does not only cover a background check on history but a current existential crisis in our world..", Shirohige discussed, which Seijurou agreed in his thoughts as his teacher hit right on the spot. "However, that is an intellectual exercise best left for another day. As of the moment, read about that and make your own reflections. Then, let's discuss it next meeting."
The students blinked and stared at their teacher as if they did not know what just hit them. After a few seconds, they just all reacted in one voice. "Ehhh..?!"
And right on cue, the bell rang for lunch break.
"Class dismissed..", said Shirohige.
"Thanks a lot, otaku-san..", said sarcastically by Jax as he passed by Seijurou.
"Yeah, geek. Don't involve us in your shit world. Tsk..", added by one of Jax's thugs.
Instead of saying anything, Seijurou just let it pass and began to prepare for lunch. But while on it, he could not help but think about what his sensei said. For some reason, he felt closer to what he had been searching for all his life.
"Don't mind them..", said Chizuru. "They're just pissed that they had to use their brains that they didn't have in the first place."
Seijurou nodded to his dear friend with a faint smile. For him, Chizuru was one of the biggest reasons why he had survived this far already. She could be harsh and rude at times, but one thing had been proven. She always had his back.
However, his thoughts were dragged back to Shirohige's words. "Current existential crisis, huh?..", he thought.
"So, same spot?..", Satsuki asked suddenly out of nowhere. She was referring to eating lunch together at the roofdeck.
The three agreed and started to walk out of the room. But just when they were about to exit the classroom, Shirohige called for Seijurou. "Erida-san, a moment please."
Seijurou looked at his friends with a little worry on his face. "You go on ahead. I'll follow."
"No, it's okay. We'll wait..", Satsuki immediately replied.
As Seijurou approached, his teacher looked at him intently as if he was trying to measure him in battle. He felt a little chill, but he remained composed.
"How bad is your eyesight, young one?..", Shirohige asked.
Surprised and not really knowing the relevance of the question, Seijurou just answered. "Eh? Uhm.. really bad, sensei. I can't see far without my frames."
"Alright, remove your glasses and hold it out as far as you can."
With a hint of confusion, Seijurou did as he was told.
"Can you still see your glasses?..", the teacher asked.
"Barely, but yes. Blurred though."
"Now, let's say the sense of sight is the only way to perceive things..", Shirohige uttered. "Can you say for certain that this pair of glasses exists in front of you? Can you prove it?"
Seijurou thought hard but could not come up with a straight answer. "No.. but there definitely is something in front of me that I can't make out of."
Contented with the boy's answer, Shirohige simply nodded with a smug look. "You may put your frames on now. And by the way, have you decided on your 'Build'?"
Again, Seijurou became confused with the relevance of the question. "No, sensei. Not yet."
"Minds that analyze everything to the dot do tend to take time to deduct on their futures..", Shirohige added. "However, one thing is for certain. That mind of yours would benefit the whole of humanity someday."
It was the first time Seijurou heard a teacher commend him in a long time. A smirk remained on his face as he, along with Chizuru and Satsuki began to walk towards the rooftop. Certainly, it was a familiar feeling for him, one that he thrived in since childhood.
But again, Shirohige's words kept on resounding in Seijurou's thoughts. During their class discussion, he knew very well that he was pushing close to the answers he was looking for, the truth.
With the rest of the class and Shirohige however unknowingly, Seijurou was trying to uncover the truth behind the mysteries that kept happening since the Blank Century up to the Abyssal Calamity, which included his mother's death. For him, there were no sufficient sensible explanations in their study of history. "Everything is nonsensical.. might as well say those aren't my glasses."
"Eh? What are you mumbling about?..", surprised, Chizuru asked as they ate their lunches.
"Nothing..", replied Seijurou before he took a bite from his meal. "I was just thinking about our discussion in class."
"Yeah, that was pretty intense."
Silence bound the three after that. It was the kind of quiet that even the faintest breeze could be detected by the ear. They were able to practically listen carefully to each other's chewing and swallowing. But Seijurou remained lost in his own world, only to be brought back to reality by his chopsticks hitting his empty bento.
"What the?..", Seijurou reacted surprised as he realized his food was gone. He then turned his attention towards the one who ate his meal. "Kinjou! Stop eating other people's food!"
"It was getting cold..", cried Satsuki with fake tears in her eyes.
Chizuru laughed as Seijurou scolded Satsuki. "Now, now, baka-jurou.. take it easy on Satsu-chan. Next time, focus on your lunch more."
"But Erida-kun..", Satsuki said as she shifted quickly to her cheery self. "Shirohige-sensei praised you today. I told you it was going to get better soon, right?"
Seijurou got himself wide eyed at Satsuki with her comment. And then, he slowly slouched and looked down as if he remembered some unresolved issue. "I'm sorry to have worried you both at the start of the term."
The girls stared at Seijurou for a while as if stunned with what he just said. Until finally, Chizuru bursted into laughter.
"What the hell was that?..", asked Chizuru in between her giggles while Seijurou continued to look down and threatened to pop a vein. "That's unusual from you.. but priceless!"
Losing his composure, Seijurou snapped at Chizuru. "I was being serious, you idiot! Stop laughing!"
But Chizuru laughed even more as Seijurou continued to yell at her.
Dumbfounded at the two, Satsuki stared in confusion for a few moments. But Chizuru's contagious snickers eventually affected her as well.
As Seijurou alternately scolded Chizuru for playing with his emotions and Satsuki for stealing his food, the two girls began to lose control of their laughter. And it went on to resound all over the rooftop until the bell.
However, little did they know someone from afar was observing them. The boy hiding from plain sight just ended a call with his "console command". Jax looked on with jealousy as he saw the girl he liked laugh with the boy he resented so much.
A feral anger began to burn inside Jax as paranoia crowded his thoughts. His fists tightened up to a point his fingertips wounded his palms. Almost unable to calm himself, the hate he felt for Seijurou ran deeply.
Jax opened his "console command" and called one of his thugs.
"Put me on loudspeaker..", Jax said as soon as the other side picked up. He waited a little to give his thugs time to gather. "Let's teach the bastard a lesson this afternoon."
Although they usually hangout with him, Jax only considered the group around him as underlings. He knew very well they were just pretty much fanboys of his wealth and charisma. There were many times he thought they were irritating and should've been ditched, but their usefulness outweighs that.
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Later that day, Jax gathered information from his subordinates about what they eavesdropped from the conversations between Seijurou and his friends. It appeared that he would be walking home alone later on since Chizuru had to attend extra ranger training.
"He usually goes through a back alley..", one of Jax's thugs said. "It's probably a shortcut to his house."
"Then that's the perfect time to strike..", replied Jax while he pounded his clenched fists together.
"But what about Kinjou-chan?..", another thug asked. "Isn't she always hanging around him?"
A vein almost popped on Jax's forehead as his eyebrows furrowed furiously with the question.
"I got that taken care of..", Jax however, replied calmly. And then, a devious smile masked his expression. "Being the Helm's new Right Hand, I don't think she'll be leaving his side soon."
To the delight of Jax's group, Seijurou appeared in front of the school's main gate. Looking as oblivious as ever, he just walked on the path he usually takes to go home. But just when they thought that it was going to be a breeze and all according to plan, Seijurou hurriedly went back inside the school's main building.
"Looks like this is gonna take a while..", a voice said in Jax's "console command".
"It's alright. Let's stick to the plan and wait..", Jax answered coldly while he contained his impatience.
The only compelling reason why Seijurou had to go back was he needed to get one thing straight, a clear cut explanation of the real truth.
The corridors were already dark when Seijurou entered the faculty hall. Besides having little sunlight come in, the lights were already turned off. A brownish hue of the little light that passed through was the only thing that guided Seijurou to his destination, his social sciences teacher's office.
Seijurou stopped in front of a door with the tag, "Gen. Shirohige Yoshiyuki", while his thoughts kept bugging him. He thought about backing out. "Maybe this isn't a good idea."
Then, the door suddenly opened to Seijurou's shock. A tall old man with a graying beard stared down on him.
"I suppose you have one more question that has been bothering you all day, Erida-san..", Shirohige said as the wide eyed Seijurou looked at him in surprise. "Right on point, am I not?"
For the first time in his life, Seijurou was lost for words in front of a teacher. He would usually be the smart one to answer all of the questions for the class. However, knowing the teacher knew something about something he knew outside of the classroom was new to him.
"Uhm.. Sensei, I..", mumbled Seijurou while he looked down. Even he was surprised with his lack of confidence in such an academically theoretical subject.
"Well? Spill it..", Shirohige responded impatiently.
And then, Seijurou's vocal chords and mouth started moving by itself. "The Blank Century, the fighting system, leveling up, builds, magic, the Abyssal Calamity, the reasoning behind my glasses.. it doesn't make sense at all."
Shirohige smirked. "I'm not sure which one's the question."
"Before the Blank Century, everything went by the book, and no amount of reasoning could possibly say it's nonsense..", Seijurou continued as he finally got his train of thought right on track. "Shirohige-sensei, what is the truth about this world? I know you know the answer."
Shirohige placed his hands on the boy's shoulders and looked at him straight in the eye. He nodded and sighed right before he turned around to walk back into the room to pack his things for home.
As Shirohige grabbed his bag and walked past Seijurou, he stopped. He noticed his student was still patiently waiting for his answer.
"Hypothetically, this plane of existence of yours without all this nonsense exists..", said Shirohige without looking at Seijurou. "For someone who was born in this world of nonsense, once you go there where everything made sense, can you say for certain that nonsense does not exist there?"
Once again, Seijurou found himself dumbfounded before his teacher. He had absolutely no answer to that.
"That was not the first time someone ever asked me that question..", Shirohige continued as he began walking away from the office. "What you see, taste, feel, hear, and smell.. only you can tell. It's like a fingerprint, it's unique to you.
"When you have the answer to my question, let's talk more. It's after hours. You should head out too, my dear boy."
Seijurou followed shortly, but at a slower pace. He never sought out for more answers and just continued to walk out of the empty hallways. As he finally reached the main gate, Shirohige was already out of sight. He just decided to walk it off and abandon his last chance to clear his thoughts.
The once cherry colored streets were already filled with greenery as the Sakura trees transformed for the change of seasons. It was already pushing towards evening, but the air felt heavy and viscous at the same time. Seijurou was forced to remove his gakuran top while walking, leaving only his undershirt because of the heat. Summer was quickly approaching.
Then, just as Seijurou turned a corner, a familiarly tall figure stood in front of him to block his path.
"You took your time going home, otaku-san..", remarked Jax impatiently. "Do you have any idea how long I've waited?"
However, Seijurou snubbed him and carried on walking home.
Jax blocked the path and pushed Seijurou back. "What? You think you can just ignore me? Who the fuck do you think I am, loser?!"
"I don't have time for this..", Seijurou snarled as he looked back, only to find there were two more of Jax's thugs behind him. "Get out of my way."
Jax and his underlings snickered demonically as they inched closer to surround Seijurou. They all looked down on him, however the glasses wearing boy's usual stoic self did not flinch.
"My merciful self already gave you a warning before..", Jax muttered with his voice almost trembling in anger. "Now.. I think it's about time I show you what happens to those who mess with me."
Without warning, the atmosphere began to blur as Seijurou felt all the air escape him when a hard blow hit his abdomen. Jax had struck him with a knee. And before he even fell flat on his face, he was struck by an uppercut bringing him upright again. More blows followed after.
And once again, Seijurou's thoughts whispered to him. "Why do I have to be in this nonsense again?"
Translation Notes:
René Descartes - a French philosopher known for the Cartesian method, or Cartesianism, which centered on thinking as a form of existence.
Emile Durkheim - a French sociologist known for his social theory that centered on collective consciousness as a means for existential reasoning.
The Abyssal Calamity - a massive destructive magical anomaly that appeared randomly, not only in Jihon, but throughout the known world two thousand and twenty years after the Great Implosion (year 2020).
The Blank Century - the first one hundred years after the Great Implosion. No recorded history exists during this time.
The Great Implosion - a disastrous event that caused the end of the first human civilization.
Sakura - the word for cherry blossoms in the ancient language (real world Japanese).